Photograph, Bagging Oysters; Unknown Photographer; 1899; BL.P663 on NZ Museums

From

Name/Title

Photograph, Bagging Oysters

About this object

This is a photograph of three men bagging oysters in 1899.

Oystering has been economically important to Bluff since the 1860s, where it began commercially in the shallow waters around Rakiura (Stewart Island). The shallow beds were decimated quickly and the focus of the industry moved towards Bluff in 1879 when deeper-water oyster beds were found in the Foveaux Strait.

Since the beginning of oystering in Southland, there has been a race to get the first catch back to shore and this practice continues to this day; some vessels now being met by helicopters for the swiftest delivery possible.

Place Made

Oceania, New Zealand, South Island, Southland, Bluff

Maker

Unknown Photographer

Maker Role

Photographer

Date Made

1899

Medium and Materials

organic, vegetal, processed materials, paper, photographic paper

Inscription and Marks

On reverse, handwritten in pencil top R corner 'P663'
H/w in blue pen on adhesive label '3'
H/w in pencil centre L upside-down '4 3/8 x 3 1/2'
H/w in blue pen centre 'A'
H/w in blue pen '86/2' followed by illegible
H/w in pencil bottom L 'Donated by Mr Bill Robjohns, Bluff'
H/w in blue pen bottom R 's/s 3'

Measurements

h 89 mm x w 111 mm

Subject and Association Keywords

People and Families (including births, weddings, deaths)

Subject and Association Keywords

Maritime

Subject and Association Keywords

Fishing

Object Type

photographs

Object number

BL.P663